The High Court in Accra has deferred its ruling on whether Assin-North Member of Parliament James Gyakye Quayson should open his defense in a case where he’s been accused of forgery and perjury.
The ruling, initially scheduled for Thursday, March 27, has been postponed to April 9.
The court, presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, received the prosecution’s latest further disclosures on March 26, prompting the adjournment.
Quayson faces charges related to alleged offenses during the 2020 Assin North parliamentary election.
He has pleaded not guilty to five counts of forgery, knowingly making false declarations, perjury, and false declaration for office.
It is the case of the prosecution that Mr. Quayson allegedly made a false statement to the Passport Office that he did not hold a passport to another country when he applied for a Ghanaian Passport.
In addition, the prosecution has accused Mr Quayson of making a false declaration to the Electoral Commission (EC) to the effect that he (Quayson) did not owe any allegiance to a foreign country when he filed to contest as a candidate for the Assin North seat.
Abuse
When the case was called, Counsel for the accused, Tsatsu Tsikata, acknowledged receiving the further disclosures but argued that it should not delay the court’s ruling on the submission of no case.
“Respectfully, my Ladyship, what the prosecution purports to have filed yesterday (March 26) should not delay your ruling on the submission of no case,” Mr. Tsikata said.
“We submit that it is an abuse of the court process for them (prosecution) to claim to be providing further disclosures in pursuance of the grant of the application made by the accused person.
“Your orders were made in December 2024 for these further disclosures, but they did not comply; instead, they asked for more time. They were given more time, but they still did not comply. Your Ladyship then gave orders for written submissions to be filed.”
“We complied and only filed on February 27, instead of February 26, because certain court notes, which we had requested, only became available in the afternoon of February 26.
“The prosecution did not comply. Even though, on March 3, when we (parties) came before you, a further opportunity was provided for them to file by the next date, they still did not, and the disclosures did not come.”
“You (Judge) set March 27 to deliver your ruling at 3:00 pm on March 26; they (prosecution) purport to file further disclosures – that is an abuse of the process of the court, if there was one,” Mr Tsikata said.
Mr. Tsikata submitted. “We therefore respectfully submit that your Ladyship takes none of this filing into view, in light of the serious failure to comply with your orders.”
“The purpose of disclosure is very well known, and it is therefore completely unacceptable for them to resort to further disclosure simply to delay a ruling that was set for today (March 27).”
Mr. Tsikata also drew the court’s attention to the fact that the originals of the passport application forms, which the Director of Passport tendered in evidence, had still not been made available.
Justice Mary Yanzuh, after hearing counsel for the accused, adjourned the case to April 9, 2025, for ruling.
